Arsenal News Arsenal opinion

Official teams and Preview of Besiktas v Arsenal

This is a massive game for the Gunners, but also one which Arsenal should be confident of getting the right result in. When you consider that we beat what most would say was better Turkish opposition at the same time last season, as well as the fact that we are stronger and more confident this time around, then Besiktas should hold no real fears for us.

And the boss has certainly gone for a fairly strong attacking line-up, with Mikel Arteta preferred to Mathieu Flamini in the deep lying midfield role. Ramsey and Wilshere need to play well to control the game and a lot of the onus will be on the big French shoulders of Olivier giroud in the centre forward position.

Szczesny
Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal
Arteta, Ramsey
Sanchez, Giroud, Cazorla

subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Miquel, Chamberlain, Flamini, Rosicky, Campbell

Our number 12 needs to step up today and start to find the form that made him so important to our success last season, especially with Sanogo, Campbell and Sanchez pushing for that central role, but I think that he will. Cazorla also needs a good game after some lacklustre performances recently.

I think we could be happy with a score draw, but I also think we should get the win and put one foot in the Champions League group stage.

Posted by

Tags Arteta Chambers Giroud

359 Comments

  1. Will Giroud have a good first touch this game?

    The Chambers slip reminded me of the FA cup final in the closing stages. It was a let off

    1. @Moreno
      We sold him because muppets like you booed him every time he touched he ball…
      You must be happy now.

  4. Shocking first half, like we play with no midfielders, and yes no strikers. I would substitute Giroud with Campbell/Ox and put Sanchez as ST and subsitute on right wing.

  6. Chambers needs cloning. Giroud needs shooting, it’s that simple. And get Cazorla off for a pacey winger please!!

  7. What the hell are you talking about? Wilshere’s being alright. Give credit when it’s due – he’s been more visible than Ramsey.

    Giroud being a Giroud and Cazorla turning on his Gervinho swag.

      1. He actually created a chance for himself where NO ONE made a run to it. He’s going forward but also tracking back. He’s been composed and hasn’t lost possession. Ramsey gave one good assist to Giroud and other than that hasn’t really seen him.

        No saying Wilshere’s been good, but alright. And not saying Ramsey’s been bad but quite invisible.

        1. Ramsey’s been making better runs thaan wilshere has. And the wilshere shot is the only thing I recall him doing. Ramsey has been linking up with alexis, feeding Giroud ball, which Giroud naturally messes up. Maybe I exaggerated at way better, but both ramsey and wilshere can do better.

          1. Well, I don’t think neither of us is faraway from the truth so let’s agree to disagree.

            But let’s agree on that Giroud’s been a lamp post the whole match so far!

    1. Arsene Wenger is a mystery. What exactly does he see in Olivier Giroud? Giroud has been our worst player in this game. A front three of Campbel – Sanchez – Ox would have been much better than this snooze fest. We have no pace, no width and no counter attack. Sancbez is threatening down the right with absolutely no support. I cannot wait for walcot tk come back. He is maybe the only man that will finally make Wenger bench Giroud.

  11. The team is screaming for an all action DM and a Striker. Also Wilshire is not a number 10. that spot needs to go to Cazorla or Rosicky when Ozil is not around.

    Chambers besides his last minute mistake has been great. Snachez is putting a lot of effort out there. Giroud sucks.

  13. Why is it even a debate whether Giroud is trash or not. Joke of a strker this is nothing new. And hey Cazorla, are you on the pitch. Why keep playing him when we have Ox. Typical Santi losing the ball and just throwing his hands ups and complaining. Poor attitude, and watch him lose his starting spot very soon he has been poor. Step it up boys! We’re better than this!

  14. Giroud is tall swap him with schez, I’m sure sxhez woukd do better, grrrr! Title credentials my arse the world is watching and this is fu*king embarrassing.

  15. I can’t believe how Giroud is playing that great!
    Btw, i also saw Besiktas-Feyenoord game; and now it’s confirmed that they’re tougher than most of us realized.

  18. In a very serious mode, if we truly want the premiership (come May 2015), we really need these three positions sorted out.

    Defensive Midfielder
    Competent Striker (not off-duty like OG)
    A decent Center Back

    And the crown will be ours in God’s grace!!! Please i don’t wish to be mean, OG is not a reliable striker for our all mighty Arsenal!

  19. I can’t believe how Giroud is playing that great!
    Btw, i also saw Besiktas-Feyenoord game; and now it’s confirmed that they’re tougher than most of us thought.

  20. Every time Sanchez makes a run and looks to make a cross he sees no one in the box. Campbell, Henry, Wright, Pires would all be in the box. Giroud can be found at the halfway line.

    1. Exactly. And when Sanchez does get into position, Giroud moves into an impossible to pass to position. Fckuin ridiculous.

  21. I don’t think we are doing badly but our only attacking option is on the right with Sanchez we need pace on the left, I love corzola but either play him in the middle or bech him,
    Arteta is doing well although I’m not a fan
    Giroud is an excellent 2 nd choice striker
    Eg would he get in Chelsea, City or even utd side NO
    I WILL PREDICT IF WENGER DOESNT SEPND IT WILL BE 3rd/4th again every year we are promised and wel fall for it,
    Sign Reus, Carvalio,and a decent young CB and we can do it

  24. Put the shittest striker In arsenal history in defence and play monreal or chambers up front .. They couldn’t do any worse..
    Can’t believe he’s been offered a new contract wtf..!
    He’s worse than chamakh!

  25. Horrendous from Giroud. If we are seriously gunna challenge, we need someone else. I laughed when I heard the Ba to Arsenal rumour. I’d snap him up quick now. Second half I’d bring on Ox or Campbell and push Alexis up top. Get Giroud to the bench quick.

  27. this is a team that does not even start its own season for another couple of weeks and cobbled together on a relative shoestring…bet bilic doesnt whine on like wenger though…pathetic display…i genuinely cant understand the point of arteta in this mix…why the frog refuses to buy a proper defensive midfielder just beggars belief he could have had cavalho for a couple of additional million…and giroud will never and i mean never be a threat to decent defences he just doesnt have the basic level of ability…sanchez is giving 100 per cent but nothing to feed off…its sad that we still have to put up with this nonesense at start of every f******* season..needs to spend at least 50m in next 10 days to threaten any trophy this year

  28. Good half, Giroud has tried hard, Chambers so good, haters pi$$ off. As long as we get the away goal we are fine to go through. Keep the faith, peace and love.

    1. You pi$$ off idiot. We want the best for Arsenal. Giroud is not good enough, thats not hate thats just the truth.

  30. Cazorla and Monreal are supposed to link up from left and provide crosses. But i have not seens a single one , A SINGLE ONE from that side. Monreal i think have not even went past the D-Box level even once. And Cazorla looks hungover from god knows what.

    1. Monreal is t even getting help from Santi, basically defending on his own. Everyone so quick to blame monreal, but don’t realize the ppl in front of him do nothing. Debuchy and Alexis I have seen close down players together. Can’t recall Santi and monreal doing the same.

      1. This is perfect. Our lw lacks like crazy so our lb gets the blame. Montreal has been fairly solid this season and the previous but gets slaughtered because there is ZERO help from a lw.

  32. Away from home
    halftime 0-0.
    Good start by Arsenal.
    Expect Besiktas to throw everything at Arsenal now.
    Arsenal getting stronger so expect an Arsenal win now.
    Campbell to get a chance 70 min.

  33. I’m calling out those who defended giroud such as NYgunner to come forward and convince the rest of us what he offers

  35. if we put giroud up for sale, who would line up to buy him? madrid? barca? pool? city? manutd? chelskie? munich? answer is none of these, and that is why he needs to go, becuz if none of your peer level competition want your players, then how can you beat them?

  43. Arsenal have not gone beyond the group stages of CL for the last 5 years. Well make it 6.
    😀

  45. Thank god arteta is off.. We might actually pass the ball forward..
    Shame it’s not that carthorse up front..!!!!

    1. Disgusting….happy that our captain gets a bad injury.
      BTW pal….you know NOTHING about football.

      1. Sorry but I do.. You will see come end of season.. ( come seek me out end of may) You always signal my comments out because you know they are spot on..it’s like a sadistic homing system you want to see my comments as they appear to offend you in some way..?
        You wengerites will never see the real issues with the poor players we possess.. You just live in blind faith.. For the past 9 years we’ve had poor players mixed with brilliant ones and the brilliant ones seek pastures new as they’re sick of playing with average..
        Your opinion is yours and mine is mine so fek off loser! Don’t read them if you can’t handle it!
        Arteta is shite as is giroud and monreal..Wenger needs better players and otherwise the season will end up a shambles..
        Sanchez must be thinking wtf…

  49. I am just curious, did Wenger ordered players to run with ball into goal or they are just affraid to shoot when there is chance? 🙂

  53. Moan Moan F@ckin Moan

    No support, just as well most people on this site never get anywhere near Emirates.

    We’ll win this leg and go through easily.

  57. @rkw you talk a lot of sense.. I just Can’t be bothered to say all that tonight .. But oh so true – spot on..!

  58. Arteta injured, Diaby injured, 5 minutes in and Flamini got carded.. I love this CDM plan of Wenger

  60. Edit: We are now a yellow card away from having Zero DMF’s in our team, Flamini picks up a yellow.

  61. I want a dm player as much as anyone, but celebrating arteta being injured is disrespctful boll*cks! Come on guys!

  64. From the performance till now i have no hope of any goal from us. So i just wich that we come out without conceeding one and win the second leg. Shambolic performance.
    Had to rely on 2 set pieces to win against CP and now have to struggle to get a draw here. Well done Arsene!

  66. 2nd half till now, i still haven’t see we strike at goal. Some guy still think we will walk over them.

  67. I hate the playoffs. FFS this is what you get when you finish 4th. I am so angry. Just waiting for this game to be over.

  75. Is good that we can face the reality that 4th doesn’t mean CL away. I got this feeling if they didn’t took their chances, we may score a odd goal.

  77. Someone is going to get sent off, 3 arsenal players now with yellow cards. Giroud is not cut out for this team, we should’ve bought a CF and loaned sanogo. Why are we not getting Reus for 25 million he should be in arsenal colours by now, we are going to get a CB but we need a DM

  87. Come on wenger you cake! Stop playing this dingbat giroud. It’s so sad. How the hell did he become a professional.

  92. The two under preforming players so far this season Cazorla and Giroud. Sanchez off is Wenger blind.

  95. Did you see Sanchez looking down in disappointment while waiting for the return pass from Giroud? Its not long when Giroud frustrates Sanchez too like he did Ozil.

    1. Match fitness? Might want to save him for the Everton game.

      But it is a bit strange. Really should have started with more pace. Giroud has been awful, although Besiktas have frustrated him the whole game. Hopefully Campbell and Rosicky on soon.

  99. The policy of keeping the same players on the pitch game after game is why we have so many injuries
    And by the way Giroud is embarrassing

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors